"As agriculture secretary, the 70-year-old Perdue will oversee the country's food and farm programs, while managing a department with more than 100,000 employees.

    "His most immediate priority will be working with Congress to formulate a new farm bill. The giant, five-year measure covers a range of policies from crop insurance for farmers to nutrition programs for low-income Americans.

    "Perdue has the support of agriculture groups and lawmakers from farm states who say he can represent the interests of farmers in a Trump administration dominated by wealthy business executives."




posted 2547 days ago